Chamber oven



\ May 16, 1939. c. oTTo 2,158,666

y CHAMBER OVEN Filed Nov. 301 1934 4 Shee'S-Sheet 2 TTORNEY INVENTOR 64,1@ OTTO r TTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. OTTO CHAMBER OVEN Filed NOV. 50, 1934 May 16, 1939.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAMBER OVEN Application November 30, 1934, SerialNo. 755,297 In Germany December 7, 1933 12 Claims.

The present invention comprises improvements in methods of producing gas and coke in intermittently operating chamber ovens adapted for the withdrawal from each coking chamber of gases of distillation formed therein, directly from hollow spaces or ducts within the charge in the chamber and from the usual gas collecting space above the charge in said chamber. Such hollow spaces or ducts may be formed, for example, by drills, bars, or mandrels introduced into, and withdrawn from the coal charge, through vertical holes or passages in the roof of the coking chamber. Said holes or passages also establish communication between a horizontal collecting or suction channel within or above the cover or roof of the coking chamber and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coking chamber, and the upper gas collecting space of the chamber also with the hollow spaces or ducts in the charge, through tubes having their lower ends extending into said spaces or ducts.

The general method of operation in which part of the distillation gases are withdrawn, as above described, from hollow spaces or ducts within the charge is sometimes referred to as the internal suction method, and as heretofore practiced, in-

volves the use of two separate hydraulic mains,

one for the gases which are drawn ofi' directly from the gas collecting spaces of each coking 30 chamber under a pressure very slightly below atmospheric pressure, and the other for gases withdrawn from the hollow space or ducts in the charge, under a pressure so much below the pressure of the atmosphere, as to tend to induce gas leakage throughV the refractory brick work walls of the chamber.

The use of two separate hydraulic mains, complicates the oven structure, and increases its construction and operation costs, and the object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of operation whereby the gases may be drawn olf from the gas collecting spaces in the upper portion of each coking chamber and from the hollow spaces or ducts in the charge in said chamber into a common gas receiving space or hydraulic main. For the attainment of this object, I make use of a collecting or suction channel in association with each coking chamber, and located within or above the oven cover, and extending in the longitudinal direction of the chamber, and in regulably restricted communication with the gas collecting space at the top of the chamber and in substantially unrestricted communication with the hollow spaces or ducts in the charge,

Communication between the said channel and the gas collecting space of the coking chamber may be established, for example, by a port or aperture in the wall between said channel and space, which is arranged direcly beneath the ascension pipe through which the channel communicates with the hydraulic gas collecting main, and is adapted to be regulated by means of a damper.

Alternatively, communication between the gas collecting space of each coking chamber and the corresponding suction channel may be established by the use of tubes which place the channel in free communication with the hollow spaces or ducts in the charge, and which pass through, but do not entirely fill openings in the wall between the channel and the gas connecting space. The flow passages between the said tubes and the walls of the said openings, may be throttled by throttling members adapted to be regulated at will in accordance with the requirements of the conditions of operation. Communication between the gas collecting space in a coking chamber and the corresponding suction channel may also be established, by providing apertures, at the level of the gas collecting space, in the tubes passing through that space and establishing communication between said channel and the hollow space or ducts in the charge. The areas of those apertures may be altered as conditions require, as for example, by the interchangeable use of tubes having apertures of different sizes.

Each of the said collecting or suction channels, may advantageously be in the form of a metallic tube lined with refractory material. The use of the metal tube permits of a higher suction in the channel than would be possible otherwise without incurring objectionable leakage risks, while the refractory lining prevents the iron or other tube metal from acting as a` catalyser, cracking the tars in the gases withdrawn, as it might if those gases were allowed to come'into contact with the metal.

In addition to its features already mentioned, the present invention also includes a procedure whereby the hot gases involved in the partly carbonized layers` of the charge adjacent the heating walls of the coking chamber, are used as scavenging gases which heat the inner layers of the charge. This result may be secured by drawing gases into the horizontal collecting channel above and extending longitudinally of the coking chamber through tubes extending downward through the gas collecting space formed by the upper portions of the coking chamber-into alterfio nate vertical ducts or holes formed in the charge while the remaining holes are freely open to said space. With the described arrangement and with direct communication between the gas collecting space and the ascension pipe cut off, or sufciently throttled, all or a considerable portion of the external gases accumulating in the collecting space will pass from the latter down into those holes or ducts in the charge which are open at their upper ends to said space, and will pass from those holes through the portions of the charge separating those holes or ducts from and the holes or ducts communicating through the tubes with the said gas collecting channel above the coking chamber. In such case, the gases withdrawn from the coking chamber through the tubes will be a gaseous mixture including the internal gases which, when iirst expelled from the charge, pass into holes or ducts entered by the tubes, and including the external gases which enter the last mentioned holes or ducts after first passing down intothe charge Afrom the gas collecting space through the holes or ducts which are open at their upper ends to said space.

Furthermore, I may make use of hot scavenging gases produced externally or the coking chamber in which they are used. The scavenging gases used, for example, may be water gas, or gases of distillation from a coking chamber or chambers in which the carbonization process is in a nal stage. To this end, I may employ in addition to the collecting or suction channel associated with each coking chamber, a separate scavenging gas distribution channel, through which scavenging gases may be passed into the ducts or hollow spaces in the charge in said chamber, and which may receive scavenging gases from other coking chambers in which the carbonization process is in an advanced stage. When two channels are thus associated with each coking chamber, the two channels may be arranged one above the other.

In one form of the present invention, the scavenging gases are withdrawn from the ducts in the charge, through the tubes, extending into the latter, through which gases are withdrawn vfrom ,the charge during other periods. This eliminates or minimizes trouble due to spongy deposits in the tubes from the outflowing gases, tending to choke the tubes. The introduction of the scavenging gases into the charge through the tubes, also makes the charge heating eiect of the scavenging gases more uniform. Other objects and characteristics of the invention are made apparent by the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which I have illustrated and de- ,scribed apparatus of various forms, and its use ,in the practice of various forms of the present invention.

Qf the drawings:

1 is a partial vertical longitudinal section of a coking chamber;

Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views taken similarly to Figs. l and 2, respectively, illustrating slight modiiications provided to effect a scavenging gas flow through portions of the charge;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views taken similarly to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating further modifications for use in eiecting a flow through the charge in each coking chamber of scavenging gases produced externally of the chamber;

Fig. 7 is a partial top view of the construction AShown in Figs. `5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the upper portion of a coking chamber, taken longitudinally o the latter, including gas take-oli provisions alternative to those shown in Figs. l to 6;

Fig. 91s a vertical section, the left hand, central, and right hand portions of which are taken on the planes indicated by the lines A A, B-B, and C-C, respectively, oi Fig. 8;

Fig. l is a top view of a portion of the oven structure shown in Fig. 8;

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. l and 2, I denotes the coal charge in each of coking chambers which are closed `by doors 2 and are situated between the heating walls II. Vertical holes 3 are made in .each charge I by means of bars, mandrels or drills introduced through vertical holes 4 provided for this purpose in the oven cover. In the holes 3 are inserted tubes 5 which open into a horizontal collecting channel, 6 extending in the longitudinal direction or the corresponding coking .A

chamber, The channels 6 are lined with refractory material l, and each communicates with the hydraulic gas main IB through a corresponding ascension pipe 9. Each channel 6 is also in communication with the gas collecting space I2 of the corresponding coking chamber through an aperture or part I3', which may be variably throttled or regulated by a damper brick I3. Communication between each channel B and the corresponding ascension pipe f3 may be throttled or regulated by a damper brick 8. As shown in the right hand portion of vFigure 1, the vertical passages 4 may be large enough in diameter to leave an annular gap or flow passage between it and the inserted tube 5. 'Ihe flow through said gaps may be regulated by throttling members I'I. In .the left hand portion of Figure 1 the tubes are formed with lateral holes I5 through which the external gases may enter. By suitably adjusting the ldamper brick I3, and giving suitable sizes to the openings I5, and adjusting the throttling members il, it is possible to maintain a deiinite, approximately atmospheric pressure in the gas collecting space I2, no matter what the suction prevailing in the channel 6 may be.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4. differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, only in that all of the cover openings 4 of Figs. 3 and 4, are of a size to be lled by the tubes 5 inserted therein,

and none of those tubes is formed with a lateral Y port I5. In Figs. 3 and 4, moreover, a tube 5 extends only through every alternate opening 4 into the subjacent duct or passage 5. Each intermediate duct 3, into which no tube 5 is inserted, serves as a passage for the down-flow into the charge of gases which have passed from the hot `outer layers of the charge along the heating walls, into the collecting space I2. The scavenging gases thus flowing into `the charge through certain ducts 3 are drawn from the latter into adjacent ducts 3 connected by the tubes 5 to the collection channel 5.

Flow through each opening 4, in which no tube is inserted, may be cut off or restricted by a damper brick I4 or `obstructing insert I6 which may be manipulated through the openings in the wall of each channel lI5, in line with the corresponding openings 4, and normally closed by removable covers I8. As will be apparent, by suitable relative adjustment of the dampers 8 and I3, and the damper bricks I4 or inserts I6, the desired pressures may be maintained in the gas collecting space I2 and in the ducts 3 into which pipes 5, preferably made of iron, are inserted, for the discharge `o f gases from the gas collecting space I2 partly upward past the damper I3, or through the partially obstructed ports 4, and partly downward into the ducts 3 in which tubes are not inserted, in the desired proportions. The gases passing downward from the space I2 through the last mentioned ducts, and drawn from the latter through portions of the charge into the ducts connected by tubes 5 to the channel 6, have both a scavenging action and a heating action on the portions of the charge through which they pass and contribute to a reduction in the coking time and The apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, and '7, is adapted for use in eiecting a scavenging gas flow between adjacent ducts 3, through adjacent portions of the charge. With the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 7, however, some or all of the gases used as scavenging gases in each coking chamber, are produced externally of that chamber, and are supplied thereto through a corresponding channel I9. Each channel I9, as shown, in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is located directly beneath the corresponding channel 6. Except for the provisions of the channels I9, and the distribution pipe 2D to which the channels I9 are connected, the apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, diiTers from that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, only in that each channel 5 is located at one side of the central plane of the corresponding oven chamber and is formed with an inlet and receives gases from each duct 3 and corresponding tube 5 through a lateral inlet. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each channel I9 communicates with the alternate ducts 3, through tubes 2l which may be similar in form to, but shorter, than the pipes 5.

However, some or all of the ducts 3, not connected to the channel S by tubes 5, may open into the space I2, as shown at the right hand end of Fig. 5. In such case more or less cf the gases may be drawn 01T through the channel 6, and through the space I2, according to the positions of the dampers 8 and I3.

As will be apparent, the pressures in each gas collecting space I2 and suction channel 6 of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 may be regulated by damper adjustments, as conditions make desirable. In particular, since the scavenging gases supplied to each chamber from the corresponding channel I 9 may be supplied under pressure, the pressure in the gas collecting space l2 of the chamber can be prevented at all times, from falling below atmospheric pressure. By adjusting the dampers to slightly increase the pressure in the gas collecting space I2 of each coking chamber in which the coking operation is in a relatively late stage, more or less of the gas then being evolved in that chamber, may be caused to pass away from the latter through the corresponding channel I9 into the distribution pipe 2i), from which the gas passes to channels I9 supplying scavenging gases to oven chambers in which the coking process is in a relatively early stage.

In drawing off lthe gases which are produced in the first stage of the coking process and are especially rich in hydrocarbons, through tubes projecting into the charge, as do the tubes 5, a phenomenon sometimes observed, is that those tubes after a certain time, for example after an hour or two, become choked with a spongy substance to such an extent, that further withdrawal of gases through the tubes, is impossible. Replacement of choked tubes, causes loss of gas, and increases the expense of plant operation, and is not possible in some cases, for the reason that a necessary natural tightening of otherwise leaky joints by tar crusts, will not occur in the case of joints between other portions of the apparatus and the tubes inserted after the coking operation had been under way for a time.

However, if the tubes projecting into the ducts 3, are adapted for alternative operative connection to a gas collecting channel, and to a distribution channel for hot scavenging gases.

trouble due to the formation of the said spongy l substance in the tubes may be avoided, in accordance with a further inventive idea included in the present invention, by having every tube which has served for a certain time, for example, an hour, as a gas draw off tube, shut 01T from the gas receiving main and connected to the distribution channel for the hot scavenging gases. In other words, the tubes 5 inserted in the ducts 3 of the charge which are connected to the gas receiving main ID, and the tubes 2| which are connected to the scavenging gas supply pipe 20, at one time, are connected to the scavenging gas supply pipe 20 and to the main I0, respectively, atanother time. Thus in such apparatus as is shown in Figs. 5-7, the flow through each of the tubes 5 and 2l may be effected during the carbonization period, by simply interchanging the connections between the two horizontal channels Ei and i9, and the gas main I0 and scavenging gas distribution pipe 20.

The passage of the hot scavenging gasesv The vertical ducts in the charge are formed,

`in Figs. 1 4, the horizontal collecting channels are arranged centrally of the respective coking chambers, while the charging holes for each chamber are inclined away from, and have their upper ends laterally displaced from the central plane of the chamber. In the ovens illustrated in Figures 5 7, the horizontal collecting and distribution channels 5 and I9 for each coking chamber, are arranged at one side oi the central plane of the chamber, while the charging holes for the chamber are arranged at the other side of said plane, and the vertical manipulating passages in the oven cover, open laterally into the horizontal collecting and distribution channels.

The invention permits the use, however, of a chamber oven as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, in which both the suction channel Ei, and the charging holes 22 in the oven cover, and the gas collecting space IZ for each coking chamber are arranged centrally of said chamber. This results in an oven cover which is particularly stable and solid, so as to be capable of supporting with security, the loads impressed on it. rangement shown in Figs. 8, 9 and l0, thehorizontal channel 6 intersects or passes through the In the arn charging holes '.22 and through the vertical manipulating passages 4 for the mandrels and the like, and communicates with the gas collectingrspace I2 above the charge, through the lower 5 portions of said charging holes and passages. Thecharging holes 22 are much larger in cross sectionthan the passages 4, and to prevent practically all of fthe gas flow from passingv through the charging' holes intov the horizontal channel E, idamperbricks "'25 'may be provided below the channel 6 to partlyl or-wholly closethe charging holes; 'The damper bricks 25 shown for this pur*- posephave -a central circular opening of a size about corresponding to that of the passages 4, `so that the mandrel, bar or the like may be passed through thoseiopenings to form the ducts in the charge.- To prevent the passage of coal into the channel -6 during the `oven charging operation, hoppers-24 -which extend downward beyond the :horizontal channel may rbe suspended in the charging holes-being withdrawn and the bricks 25 put' in place, at the end of the charging operation.

Thefpipe or channel 28, shown in Fig. 8, does 25 'not vserve asa draw off main, but does serve the pressure.- equalizing purposes served by the pipe 20,.-show-nfin Fig. 5. Nozzles 3| are provided to inject-a cooling liquid as ammonia water, into thechannel 2B. Where gas draw off passages, :such as the ducts 3, are formed in the charge, the pressure equalization obtainable with the pipes 20 and.28,is of especial importance, because particularly highpressures may arise in the gas collectingv spaces of the vcoking chambers, in the Jrst stage of -the coking process, owing to the internal Vand external gasesV being drawn off simultaneously,'said pressures can be equalized through the main 28 lorpipe 2i] by which part of the Igases-from the rst coking stage then pass o (into neighboringchambers in which a later stage of carbon-izationis being carried on. The irrigation of -theequalizing channel with a scavenging liquid and resultant coolingof the gas passing throughit, is of particular` importance to prevent ,overheating of the gas drawn off from the interior of the charge,

In Fig. 8, 26 are the rails for the larry car, and 21 designates the ascension pipes through which the ends remote fromthe gas collecting spaces w .i2 of allthe coking chambers may be connected to the pressure equalizing channel'ZS. By means of damperbricks 29 and 30, each ascension pipe 21 may be shut off, respectively, from the corresponding collecting space` I2 and the channel 6. u As shown in Fig. A8, the channel 6 extends with its full cross'sectional area to the outer chamber wall-of the gas 4main side of the battery, and is closed-by a door 23. In order to clear the channel 6, a scraper or broom may be introduced, into 00 .the channel through'itsend opened by the removalof thedoor 23.

I claim:

1. In 'producing kcoke and gas in an intermitv tently operated oven chamber containing a charge 65 uf coal' with ducts extending into the charge, and

a gas collecting space above the charge, the

method which consists in drawing gases from said-space and from said ducts directly into a common receiving space, while maintaining a gas 70 :pressure in said receiving space and in said ducts substantially below atmospheric pressure, and

maintaining'a pressure in said collecting space approximately equal to atmospheric pressure.

2. In producing coke and gas in a coke oven 7b ,structure comprising'an intermittently operated ovenfchamber and a gas collecting channel alongside and adjacent the top of said chamber, the

significant loss of pressure into said channel from 10 said ducts and drawing gases from said space into said channel with such reduction in pressure as to maintain the pressure in said space approximately equal to atmospheric pressure.

3. In producing coke and gas in a coke oven 15 structure comprising an intermittently operated oven chamber and a gas collecting channel alongside and adjacent the top of said chamber, the method which consists in charging said chamber with coal to provide a gas space above the 20 charge, forming vertical ducts extending downward into the charge from said space at inter vals along the lengthof the charge, maintaining a pressure substantially below the pressure of the atmosphere in said channel and passing 5 gas in separate streams from the different ducts and without signicant loss of pressure into said channel, and drawinggases from said' space into Y the ducts in the charge into the receiving space in confined streams traversing the collecting space and each passing through a corresponding port in the oven chamber top wall which connects sai-d collecting 'space' to said receiving space 45 and passing gas through said ports from the collecting space into the receiving space in streams separate from the first mentioned streams and restricted in cross section to increase the-gas pressure drop between the ends of each of the second mentioned streams.

6. In producing coke and gas in an intermittently operated oven chamber, the method which consists in charging the chamber with coal, leveling the charge and thereby providing a gas space above the charge, thereafter adding coal at the top of the charge to reduce the volume of said gas space, forming vertical ducts extending downward into the charge, drawing gases from said space and from said ducts directly into a common receiving space while maintaining a gas-pressure in said receiving space and in said ducts substantially below atmospheric pressure and throttling the flow of gas between said re ceiving and gas spaces to maintain a pressure in said collecting space approximately equal to atmospheric pressure.

'7. In producing coke and gas in an intermittently operated oven chamber containing a charge of coal and a gas collecting space above the charge, and with ducts extending down into the charge, the method which consists in drawing gases from said space and from some of said ducts directly into a common receiving space, While maintainingy a gas pressure in the last mentioned space and in said ducts substantially below atmospheric pressure, and throttling the flow of gases between said spaces to maintain a pressure approximately equal to atmospheric pressure in said collecting space and in other ducts which are open at their upper ends to the gas collecting space and are respectively alongside the ducts in which the lower pressure is maintained, and drawing gases into the last mentioned ducts through the intervening portions of the charge from the ducts in which the higher pressure is maintained.

8. In producing coke and -gas in a coke oven structure, comprising an intermittently operated oven chamber containing a charge of coal with ducts extending into the charge from its top and a gas collecting space above the charge, and comprising a gas receiving channel above said chamber and openings in the portion of the oven structure between said channel and chamber distributed along the length of the latter and respectively above the different ducts, the method which consists in maintaining a gas pressure substantially below the pressure of the atmosphere in said channel, passing gases without significant loss of pressure through certain of said ducts into said channel in confined streams passing through the openings respectively above tne last mentioned ducts while preventing gas flow through the last mentioned openings into said channel from said space, drawing gases into the last mentioned ducts from the remaining ducts through the intervening portions oi the charge, and partially obstructing the openings respectively above said remaining ducts to permit a gas flow therethrough from the gas collecting space into the receiving channel so restricted as to maintain a pressure in said gas collecting space approximately equal to atmospheric pressure.

9. In producing coke and gas in a coke oven structure comprising a plurality of intermittently operated oven chambers, and two gas channels associated with each chamber, the method which consists in charging each chamber with coal to provide a gas space above the charge, forming vertical ducts extending downward into the charge from said space at intervals along the length of the charge, maintaining a pressure substantially below the pressure of the atmosphere in one of said channels pertaining to each chamber, passing gas without significant loss of pressure into the last mentioned channel from certain of said ducts in the corresponding chamber, and drawing gases from the gas "L collecting space of the latter into the last mentioned channel with such reduction of pressure as to maintain the pressure in said space approximately equal to atmospheric pressure, and passing hot scavenging gas from the second A channel pertaining to each oven chamber into the charge ducts thereof not delivering gas to the other channel.

10. In producing gas and coke in an intermittently operated oven chamber containing a coal charge with ducts extending into the charge and tubes extending into said ducts, the method which consists in withdrawing distillation gases from some of said ducts and passing scavenging gases into the remaining ducts through the respectively corresponding tubes during one portion of each coking operation, and, during another portion of the same coking operation, withdrawing distillation gases from the last mentioned ducts through the tubes corresponding thereto, and through the remaining tubes passing scavenging gases into the ducts from which distillation gases are withdrawn during said one portion of each cokin-g operation.

1l. In producing gas and coke in a battery comprising a plurality of intermittently operated oven chambers each containing a charge of coal with ducts extending into the charge and a gas collecting space above the charge and comprising gas collecting channels respectively adjacent to the different chambers and a hydraulic main to which said channels are all connected, the method which consists in drawing gases from the said space and the said ducts of each chamber directly into the channel adjacent to the chamber while maintaining a gas pressure in yl the channel and ducts substantially below atmospheric pressure, and throttling the flow of gases from the collecting space of each chamber into the adjacent channel to maintain gas pressures in said collecting spaces approximately equal to atmospheric pressure, and passing gases between the different channels to equalize the gas pressures in the latter.

12. In producing gas an-d coke in a battery comprising a plurality of intermittently operated oven chambers each containing a charge of coal with ducts extending into the charge and a `gas collecting space above the charge and comprising gas collecting channels respectively adjacent to the different chambers and a hydraulic main L..

to which said channels are all connected, the method which consists in drawing gases from the said space and the said ducts of each chamber directly into the channel adjacent to the chamber, while maintaining gas pressure in the channels and ducts substantially below atmospheric pressure, and throttling the ilow of gases from the collecting space of each chamber into the adjacent channel to maintain gas pressures in said collecting spaces approximately equal to atmospheric pressure, and passing gases between the different channels to equalize the gas pressures in the latter, and introducing scavenging uid into the gases passing between the channels.

CARL OTTO.

lil 

